Mechanisms for organizing messages across different message types. This may be accomplished by using a single integrated user interface in which messages across a variety of different message types are represented in a common way. For example, the user experience of placing a telephone call is standardized, regardless of the actual telephone technology (Cell phone, VoIP, or POTS) used to conduct the telephone conversation. Also, addition to a general log that includes the overall list of messages, each message also has a separate, message-based log, thereby allowing for more flexible querying and organization of the messages regardless of the message type.
|
1. In a computing system that is capable of using a plurality of telephone technologies to facilitate telephone conversations, a method for providing a user of the computing system with a user interface that allows the user the ability to select a subject field to include with a type of telephone technology selected to use at the time a call is placed, the method comprising the following:
an act of identifying a callee;
an act of presenting a user interface that may be used to place a telephone call with the callee, wherein the user interface provides a standard user experience regardless of which of the plurality of telephone technologies is used to initiate a telephone call to the callee, wherein the plurality of telephone technologies connect a plurality of different types of telephone devices, and wherein the user interface comprises:
a contact window that includes:
a first input field for displaying an indication of a telephone number used to contact the callee;
a subject field that allows a user to insert a subject of the telephone call prior to initiation of the telephone call; and
a selectable call field usable to initiate the telephone call, wherein the call field includes a link to display, in the contact window, the plurality of telephone technologies usable to initiate the telephone call with the callee for selection by the user;
an act of receiving input to the subject field that allows the user to inform the callee of the subject of the telephone call;
after presenting the user interface with the contact window and displaying the indication of the telephone number of the callee, an act of receiving input selecting one telephone technology from the plurality of telephone technologies from the call field in the contact window; and
upon receiving user input to initiate the telephone call, an act of sending the subject field to the callee in a dial-up request to give the callee more information relevant to whether or not the callee wants to accept or decline the call.
12. In a computing system that is capable of using a plurality of telephone technologies to facilitate telephone conversations, a method for providing a user of the computing system with a user interface that allows the user the ability to select a subject filed to include with a type of telephone technology selected to use at the time a call is placed, the method comprising the following:
presenting a user interface that may be used to place a telephone call from a user to at least one contact, wherein the user interface provides a standard user experience regardless of which of POTS, cell, and VOIP telephone technologies supported by the user interface is used to initiate a telephone call to the contact, and wherein the POTS, cell, and VOIP telephone technologies connect a plurality of different types of telephone devices, and the user interface comprises:
(i) a contact window at a first tab, the contact window including:
(a) a first input field for displaying an indication of a telephone number used to initiate a phone call to a selected contact, wherein the first input field includes a plurality of portions including:
(1) a text field identifying a particular telephone number of the selected contact; and
(2) a link portion which, upon selection, provides a list of alternative telephone numbers corresponding to the selected contact;
(b) a subject field that allows a user to insert a subject of the telephone call prior to initiation of the telephone call; and
(c) a selectable call field usable to initiate the telephone call with the selected contact, wherein the call field includes a plurality of portions including:
(1) a button portion for initiating the telephone call; and
(2) a link portion which, upon selection, provides a list of selectable and available telephone technologies usable to initiate the telephone call with the contact, including at least POTS, VOIP, and cell, and wherein one of the telephone technologies is set as a default for automatic selection when no other contrary selection has been made by the user, and wherein the same link portion is used to identify any of the POTS, VOIP, and cell telephone technologies;
(ii) a notes window at a second tab, the notes window including an input field for the user to add notes regarding the telephone call initiated in the contact window;
(iii) a history window at a third tab, the history window including a history of recent communication with the selected contact, including communication made over diverse types of communication mechanisms; and
(iv) an input window, independent of any tab, wherein the input window is displayed simultaneously with each of the windows at the tabs, and includes a selectable link for enabling a user to add and remove tabs and windows corresponding thereto;
in the contact window, identifying a contact and placing the telephone number corresponding to the identified contact in the text field of the first input field in the contact window;
receiving user input to the subject field that allows the user to inform the contact of the subject of the telephone call;
after presenting the user interface, identifying the contact, and placement of the telephone number of the identified contact in the text field of the first input field in the contact window, receiving input selecting one telephone technology from the plurality of telephone technologies from the call field in the contact window;
upon receiving user input to initiate the telephone call, sending the subject field to the identified contact to give the contact more information relevant to whether or not the contact wants to accept or decline the call, and;
using the selected telephone technology to initiate the telephone call with the identified contact.
2. A method in accordance with
an act of using the selected telephone technology to initiate the telephone call.
3. A method in accordance with
4. A method in accordance with
5. A method in accordance with
6. A method in accordance with
7. A method in accordance with
8. A method in accordance with
9. A method in accordance with
10. A method in accordance with
an act of generating a per-message log that is dedicated to the telephone conversation.
11. A method in accordance with
an act of accessing a query regarding a plurality of messages of which the computing system has a record, each of the messages having an associated per-message log; and
an act of using the per-message logs to formulate a response to the query.
|
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to networking technologies; and more specifically, to an integrated message user interface in which the user experience is standardized regardless of the type of message, and in which logs are maintained on a per-message basis thereby facilitating organization of the messages.
2. Background and Related Art
Communication is an essential need of humankind. The advent of the telephone represents one of the most important advances in communication technology, allowing real-time audio conversations to occur even over vast distances. As humanity progresses further into the information age, we find increasing diversity in the number of technologies that may be used to electronically communicate. For example, e-mail, instant messaging, shared windows, and electronic white-boarding are all in common use.
Even telephone technology alone has greatly diversified when telephone technology is defined as any networking technology that facilitates real-time audio conversations. For example, one can now use the conventional regular land-line telephone using Plain-Old Telephone Service (POTS) to engage in a telephone conversation. Furthermore, new telephone technologies have emerged enabling mobile telephones. Even the standard Internet Protocol (IP) may be used to communicate real-time audio conversations using Voice-over IP (VoIP).
While this vast array of communication technologies has greatly improved our freedom to communicate, it has also presented organizational challenges. For instance, there is typically one application used to engage in instant messaging, another to engage in e-mail, yet another to engage in a telephone call, and so forth. Accordingly, it is quite difficult to organize all communications across message types. This is especially true for synchronous communications such as telephone conversations, instant messaging, shared windows, and the like. Since messages are difficult to organize across message types, it is often difficult to correlate related messages to thereby harness the value provided from the information within the messages. Accordingly, information overload often prevails.
What would therefore be advantageous are mechanisms for organizing messages across a variety of different message types in an intuitive manner.
The foregoing problems with the prior state of the art are overcome by the principles of the present invention, which are directed towards mechanisms for organizing messages across different message types. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this may be accomplished by using a single integrated user interface in which messages across a variety of different message types arc represented in a common way. For instance, messages appear in a general message log regardless of whether they are an e-mail, an instance message, or a telephone call, and regardless of whether the telephone call was over a cell phone network, over the Internet using Voice-over-IF (VoIP), or over regular Plain-Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines.
In one embodiment, the user experience of placing a telephone call is standardized, regardless of the actual telephone technology (Cell Phone, VoIP, or POTS) used to conduct the telephone conversation. A user may simply select a contact from the contacts list, and then select the desired telephone technology used to conduct the telephone call. Also, a general log provides information in a standardized manner regardless of the type of message or call.
In addition to a general log that includes the overall list of messages, each message also has a separate, message-based log that lists information relevant to the contact for the message, any relevant information regarding the message itself and information regarding further communications opened as part of the session related to the message. These separate, per-message logs allow for more flexible querying and organization of the messages regardless of the message type.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
The principles of the present invention relate to mechanisms for organizing messages across different message types. This may be accomplished by using a single integrated user interface in which messages across a variety of different message types are represented in a common way. For example, the user experience of placing a telephone call is standardized, regardless of the actual telephone technology (Cell Phone, VoIP, or POTS) used to conduct the telephone conversation. Also, in addition to a general log that includes the overall list of messages, each message also has a separate, message-based log, thereby allowing for more flexible querying of the messages regardless of the message type.
Turning to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, the invention is illustrated as being implemented in a suitable computing environment. The following description is based on illustrated embodiments of the invention and should not be taken as limiting the invention with regard to alternative embodiments that are not explicitly described herein.
In the description that follows, the invention is described with reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations that are performed by one or more computers, unless indicated otherwise. As such, it will be understood that such acts and operations, which are at times referred to as being computer-executed, include the manipulation by the processing unit of the computer of electrical signals representing data in a structured form. This manipulation transforms the data or maintains them at locations in the memory system of the computer, which reconfigures or otherwise alters the operation of the computer in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. The data structures where data are maintained are physical locations of the memory that have particular properties defined by the format of the data. However, while the invention is being described in the foregoing context, it is not meant to be limiting as those of skill in the art will appreciate.
For descriptive purposes, the architecture portrayed is only one example of a suitable environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the invention. Neither should the computing systems be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or a combination of components illustrated in
The invention is operational with numerous other general-purpose or special-purpose computing or communications environments or configurations. Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and configurations suitable for use with the invention include, but are not limited to, mobile telephones, pocket computers, personal computers, servers, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices.
In its most basic configuration, a computing system 100 typically includes at least one processing unit 102 and memory 104. The memory 104 may be volatile (such as RAM), non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.), or some combination of the two. This most basic configuration is illustrated in
The storage media devices may have additional features and functionality. For example, they may include additional storage (removable and non-removable) including, but not limited to, PCMCIA cards, magnetic and optical disks, and magnetic tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in
As used herein, the term “module” or “component” can refer to software objects or routines that execute on the computing system. The different components, modules, engines, and services described herein may be implemented as objects or processes that execute on the computing system (e.g., as separate threads). While the system and methods described herein are preferably implemented in software, implementations in software and hardware or hardware are also possible and contemplated.
Computing system 100 may also contain communication channels 112 that allow the host to communicate with other systems and devices. Communication channels 112 are examples of communications media. Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information-delivery media. By way of example, and not limitation, communications media include wired media, such as wired networks and direct-wired connections, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio, infrared, and other wireless media. The term computer-readable media as used herein includes both storage media and communications media.
The computing system 100 may also have input components 114 such as a keyboard, mouse, pen, a voice-input component, a touch-input device, and so forth. Output components 116 include screen displays, speakers, printer, etc., and rendering modules (often called “adapters”) for driving them. The computing system 100 has a power supply 118. All these components are well known in the art and need not be discussed at length here.
The communication modules 210 include various components that are each capable of communicating using a particular communication technology. Some of these communication technologies may involve telephone technologies in which a caller and a callee may engage in a real-time telephone conversation.
For example, the communication modules 210 include a POTS module 211 capable of placing telephone calls over Plain-Old Telephone Service (POTS) networks in response to a direct or indirect command from the integrated user interface 201. Furthermore, the cell phone module 212 places telephone calls over a cellular network such as a GSM network. Alternatively or in addition, the cell phone module 212 may connect to a separate cell phone to cause that cell phone to place a telephone call using, for example, BLUETOOTH. In addition, a VoIP module 213 places a telephone call using Voice-over IP technology.
Additional modules may also be included as represented by the horizontal ellipses 214 to place telephone calls using other telephone technology, whether now developed or whether to be developed in the future. The additional communication modules 214 may also represent modules that facilitate non-telephonic forms of communication such as e-mail, instant messaging, shared windows, shared applications, whiteboarding, or the like.
The operation of the software architecture 200 of
According to the method 800, the computing system identifies a callee (act 801). Specifically, the user may identify the callee through a user interface. An example of such a user interface is illustrated in
Returning to
Specifically, the computing system presents a user interface that shows a number of telephone technologies that may be used to engage in a telephone call with the callee (act 811). The user interface further includes a mechanism for a user to select one of the plurality of telephone technologies to be used to engage in the telephone call.
The user interface 500 includes a call button 513, which prompts the relevant communications module to initiate the telephone call. If there is more than one possible telephone technology to use when calling the callee, a drop down element 514 may be provided. This drop down element 514 may be used to list all possible telephone technologies that may be used to call the designated callee. For example, the listed telephone technologies may include POTS, Cell Phone, VoIP, or others.
If multiple telephone technologies are possible to place the call, the caller may select a telephone technology to use by using the drop down element 514. Alternatively, the user may simply select the call icon 513 to allow the computing system to identify a default calling mechanism from among the different telephone technologies available.
In any case, once the user has selected a telephone technology, the computing system determines that the user has interfaced with the user interface to select one of the plurality of telephone technologies to use to engage in the telephone call (act 812). The computing system then uses the selected telephone technology to facilitate the telephone call (act 813). For example, if the user selects VoIP, the appropriate VoIP module 213 is used to place the telephone call.
Once a telephone call is being engaged in, the user may use the user interface to allow for further communications associated with the telephone call. This mechanism is represented in
Selection of a document that has been made available for sharing can cause an appropriate application to execute and be shared between a caller and a callee. For example, selection of document 1102 can cause an application to execute and be shared.
The callee initiates the call using the integrated user interface 201. The call is placed using the selected telephone technology. When the call is received, an integrated user interface on the callee computing system may be displayed showing the identity of the caller, the telephone number and technology used to place the call, and potentially the subject, importance and or nature of the telephone call. An example of such a user interface is illustrated in
In some embodiments, when a notification for a call is received, a reminder for that call is created by selecting an appropriate control.
Smaller versions of a user-interface can all also be presented. These smaller versions of the user-interface can include some of the functionality described in
The per-message logs 301A through 304A each include information relevant to its corresponding message. For example, the per-message log may include information relevant to the other party to the communication such as, for example, a display name, an e-mail address, a phone number, a user icon, a contact reference number, or the like. The per-message log may also include information specific to the message. In this case of a telephone call, this may include, for example, the time the call was initiated, the call duration, the subject of the call, whether or not the call was accepted or declined, or whether or not additional communications related to the call were initiated.
By maintaining logs on a per-message basis, querying, searching, and organizing the message becomes much easier. For example, one could query for all messages within a one week period that was two months ago that include the word “tax” in their subject. Also, one could query for the last time any contact was made with a particular individual. Furthermore, one could query for the top five people with whom the individual engages in telephone conversations ranked in order of accumulated call duration. Also, as mentioned above, the query may be for related messages by sender or subject in response to the user having selected the “Show all recent communications” icon 516. The number of possibilities is endless. In operation, each per-message log may be applied as input against an inverse query engine, which outputs only those logs that satisfy the query.
Accordingly, the principles of the present invention provide a powerful mechanism for organizing, searching and querying messages across different message types, and provide the user with a common user experience across message types, thereby significantly improving the state of the art.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are to be embraced within their scope.
Fuller, Deana R., Van Tilburg, Martijn E., Starbuck, Bryan T., McCabe, Mark Anthony
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10200338, | Jan 23 2013 | GOOGLE LLC | Integrating communication modes in persistent conversations |
10225411, | Sep 04 2014 | GOOGLE LLC | Selection of networks for voice call transmission |
10229258, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Method and device for providing security content |
10291770, | Sep 13 2004 | BlackBerry Limited | Handheld electronic device having improved phone call log, and associated method |
10331309, | Jan 23 2013 | GOOGLE LLC | Persistent conversations |
10582157, | Jan 23 2013 | GOOGLE LLC | Live interaction in persistent conversations |
10739958, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Method and device for executing application using icon associated with application metadata |
10824707, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Method and device for providing security content |
10834030, | Mar 21 2019 | International Business Machines Corporation | Variable undo-send delay time |
10880426, | Sep 13 2004 | BlackBerry Limited | Handheld electronic device having improved phone call log, and associated method |
11057509, | Dec 23 2005 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd | Apparatus and method for providing incoming and outgoing call information in a mobile communication terminal |
11778088, | Sep 13 2004 | BlackBerry Limited | Handheld electronic device having improved phone call log, and associated method |
8190213, | Dec 23 2008 | Google Technology Holdings LLC | Method and apparatus for one-click reminder creation |
8504080, | Dec 18 2003 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC | User interface for creating multimedia message of mobile communication terminal and method thereof |
8976948, | Feb 13 2009 | HTC Corporation | Method and communication device for displaying caller information and recording medium |
9253223, | Jan 23 2013 | GOOGLE LLC | Live interaction in persistent conversations |
9270630, | Jan 23 2013 | GOOGLE LLC | Integrating communication modes in persistent conversations |
9277060, | Jun 23 2006 | WSOU Investments, LLC | Presenting to a user contextual information regarding a communication before the user takes action concerning the communication |
9338403, | Jan 23 2013 | GOOGLE LLC | Persistent conversations |
9576136, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Method and device for providing a private page |
9607157, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Method and device for providing a private page |
9632578, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO , LTD | Method and device for switching tasks |
9639252, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Device and method for displaying execution result of application |
9654645, | Sep 04 2014 | GOOGLE LLC | Selection of networks for voice call transmission |
9705842, | Jan 23 2013 | GOOGLE LLC | Integrating communication modes in persistent conversations |
9715339, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Display apparatus displaying user interface and method of providing the user interface |
9843666, | Sep 13 2004 | BlackBerry Limited | Handheld electronic device having improved phone call log, and associated method |
9921662, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Method and device for switching tasks using fingerprint information |
9922211, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Method and device for providing a private page |
9927953, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO , LTD | Method and device for providing menu interface |
9952681, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Method and device for switching tasks using fingerprint information |
9971911, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Method and device for providing a private page |
9996246, | Mar 27 2013 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Device and method for displaying execution result of application |
D632698, | Dec 23 2009 | SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO LTD | Patient monitor with user interface |
D635149, | Aug 20 2009 | SMART Technologies ULC | Display screen with user interface |
D649556, | Dec 23 2009 | SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO LTD | Patient monitor with user interface |
D732565, | Jun 05 2012 | P&W SOLUTIONS CO., LTD. | Display screen with graphical user interface |
D733736, | Jun 05 2012 | P&W SOLUTIONS CO., LTD. | Display screen with graphical user interface |
D809540, | Apr 22 2016 | BSWIFT LLC | Display screen with graphical user interface |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
5848356, | Oct 02 1995 | Google Technology Holdings LLC | Method for implementing icons in a radio communication device |
6064725, | Oct 21 1996 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal device, call-history memory method and call-history display method |
6157379, | May 21 1998 | HIGHBRIDGE PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT | Apparatus and method of formatting a list for display on a touchscreen |
6771640, | Oct 23 2000 | ITXC IP HOLDING SARL | Virtual calling card with arbitrary controls |
7181698, | Dec 16 2002 | SAP SE | Detachable tabs presenting accessed objects in a multi-tab interface |
7248677, | Aug 22 2001 | Nokia Technologies Oy | Method of and apparatus for communicating user related information using a wireless information device |
20020027976, | |||
20020132638, | |||
20030194077, | |||
20040013243, | |||
20040119761, | |||
20040148392, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Apr 30 2004 | Microsoft Corporation | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Aug 19 2004 | STARBUCK, BRYAN T | Microsoft Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 015082 | /0611 | |
Aug 19 2004 | VAN TILBURG, MARTIJN E | Microsoft Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 015082 | /0611 | |
Aug 19 2004 | MCCABE, MARK ANTHONY | Microsoft Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 015082 | /0611 | |
Aug 23 2004 | FULLER, DEANA R | Microsoft Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 015082 | /0611 | |
Oct 14 2014 | Microsoft Corporation | Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 034541 | /0477 |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Mar 17 2009 | ASPN: Payor Number Assigned. |
Aug 28 2012 | M1551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Year, Large Entity. |
Sep 15 2016 | M1552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity. |
Jun 25 2020 | M1553: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 12th Year, Large Entity. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Mar 31 2012 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Oct 01 2012 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 31 2013 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Mar 31 2015 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Mar 31 2016 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Oct 01 2016 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 31 2017 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Mar 31 2019 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Mar 31 2020 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Oct 01 2020 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 31 2021 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Mar 31 2023 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |